Brother, what are you doing? Gwen thought, her heart hammering against her ribs. Are you really just going to say the quiet part out loud? Is 'the work' something you just announce to the public?
Gwen had been saved by Toby in a display of calculated, bloody efficiency. Since that night, she had fallen for him irrevocably. She knew exactly what he meant by "cleaning up underground pests." He wasn't talking about literal insects; he was talking about the human vermin that infested the city's dark corners.
Dr. Connors, however, clearly hadn't made the leap to "hired assassin." He looked at Toby with a touch of melancholy and professional regret.
"Research into pestilence and urban ecology? An admirable pursuit, I suppose," Connors mused.
"In today's world, industrial pollution has made invasive species and urban pests increasingly difficult to manage. If a mind like yours is dedicated to that field, you could arguably make a massive contribution to public health. It's just... I can't help but feel that with your intellect, focusing solely on 'extermination' is a bit of a waste."
Fisk Industries maintained a public image as a philanthropic powerhouse, so Toby's claim of working in "sanitation and pest control" was perfectly plausible. Even Peter didn't suspect a thing.
Toby, unbothered by the doctor's pity, replied calmly.
"There are no small tasks. With great power, comes great responsibility."
"I believe my particular set of skills is best suited for clearing out the pests. So, I do it. There's no 'waste' in doing what needs to be done."
The room went silent. The three people surrounding Toby stared at him, each processing his words through their own lens.
Dr. Connors felt a surge of shame. He was a world-renowned scientist in his fifties, yet he felt less enlightened than this twenty-year-old. He had been chasing godhood through genetics, while this young man was content to do the "dirty work" for the sake of responsibility.
Peter looked at his cousin with pure, unadulterated pride. That's my brother, he thought. Always the hero in the shadows, his moral compass pointing true even when no one is watching.
And then there was Gwen. Her eyes were practically shimmering with adoration.
This is the man, she thought. Smart, brave, powerful, yet so incredibly humble. He walks in the darkness but carries the light within him. He has every noble quality a human can possess. Even Toby's "perfectly-sculpted" face seemed like his least impressive feature compared to the nobility she imagined was in his soul. He's so perfect. I love him so much.
Toby remained silent under the weight of their collective gaze. Did I say something profound? he wondered. I literally just quoted a Hallmark card from my old man.
Seeing them continue to stare, Toby gestured toward the hallway. "Weren't we going to see the lab, Doctor? Or are we planning to stand here until the other interns arrive and make it a crowd?"
The three of them snapped back to the present.
Dr. Connors discarded his elder-statesman persona. He addressed Toby with the tone of an equal, a peer. "Mr. Parker, please follow me. It is an honor to have you in my laboratory."
After passing through the sterilization chambers, they entered Connors' private sanctum. It was a state-of-the-art facility, filled with bio-research equipment that most universities couldn't dream of owning—much of it proprietary OsCorp tech.
Connors walked them through his previous successes, but eventually, he led them to the centerpiece of his life's work: the cross-species lizard DNA regeneration serum.
He looked at a group of failed test subjects—lab mice that hadn't survived the transition—and his shoulders slumped.
"I've spent my life breaking new ground in cross-species genetics. But this project—the one I need the most—has been my wall. I've been stuck on the final calculation for ten years."
"The media calls me the modern Darwin. But I know the truth. Compared to the real giants of the field, I'm still one step short. And that one step is a chasm I haven't been able to cross."
"If there's anyone who deserved the title of the 'Modern Darwin,' it was the man who started this with me. If he were still here, the Decay Rate Algorithm would have been solved years ago."
Toby's eyes narrowed. He knew exactly who "he" was. Beside him, Peter's smile vanished. His voice dropped an octave, turning low and heavy.
"The man you're talking about... he was..."
"Yes," Connors interrupted, his voice thick with a decade of guilt. He looked Peter in the eye. "Your father. Richard Parker."
Though Gwen hadn't used Peter's last name during the introductions, she had used Toby's. Connors had known Toby's uncle, Ben, and knew that Toby was the nephew of his former partner. It didn't take a genius to realize who Peter was.
"Peter, this research was originally a joint venture between your father and me," Connors continued.
"Richard had the spark. I truly believe he could have finished this—he could have healed millions. But when that plane went down... it took the algorithm with it. And it left me in the dark for ten years."
"I'm sorry, Peter. I've been your father's friend for a long time, yet I never reached out. I told myself it was because I was angry. I hated that Richard left me in the middle of the breakthrough. I hated that he took my chance to be 'whole' again with him."
"But Toby's words today... they woke me up. 'Great power, great responsibility.' I didn't have the power to solve it, yet I tried to claim the responsibility. I blamed your father for my own failures. I am deeply ashamed."
"I'm sorry, Peter."
As the apology hung in the air, Peter's fists clenched at his sides. His whole body began to tremble—whether from grief, anger, or a sudden, overwhelming sense of legacy, Toby couldn't be sure.